Lyncs can’t hang with King’s in title game

Lynden Christian entered its Class 1A District title matchup with King’s hoping it would produce a state regional berth, and perhaps a bit of revenge after losing to the Knights during last year’s 1A state championship.

Instead the Lyncs left humbled, frustrated and with more bad memories against district rival King’s.

No. 1-ranked Lynden Christian fell behind early before rallying early in the second half, but the Lyncs could not overcome a second King’s wave of momentum and suffered their second and most lopsided loss of the year — a 78-53 defeat on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Mount Vernon High School.

“They beat us in every aspect of the game tonight,” Lynden Christian coach Roger DeBoer said. “We have to take it as a learning lesson.”

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LC will have to rebound quickly, because the loss means the Lyncs will need to win two straight 1A Bi-District Tournament games in order to book a return trip to the state playoffs. Lynden Christian faces either Cedar Park Christian or University Prep in a loser-out game at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at Mountlake Terrace High School.

Jake Poag scored a team-high 15 points, and Zach Roetcisoender and Josiah Meppelink each had 10.

Lynden Christian only trailed 15-10 after the first quarter, but the Knights took over the game’s momentum creating Lyncs turnovers and took a 35-21 edge into halftime.

Two Poag 3s and triples from Meppelink and Roetcisoender cut King’s advantage to 40-35 with 5:30 to play in the third, but an 11-3 Knights run blunted any momentum LC had built.

Learning lesson

DeBoer spoke after the game about how his team needs to learn from this loss moving forward. While the loss leaves a bitter sting, he said, it’s one of those situations were a team can refocus after not having taken such a lopsided loss.

Foul trouble

Lynden Christian struggled on the offensive end against King’s tough zone defense. One of the reasons was Roetcisoender, who led the NWC in scoring this year, got into early foul trouble. The senior, who averages over 23 points per game, was held to a season-low 10.